Online shopping is a daily reality for many of us, but what if you could turn those purchases into free flights, hotel stays, or other travel perks? By combining Rakuten.com—a leading shopping portal—with American Express Membership Rewards points, you can transform your spending into valuable travel rewards. This powerful duo allows you to earn points instead of traditional cash back, supercharging your rewards and paving the way for incredible travel experiences. Here’s how it works, why it’s a game-changer, and how you can get started today.
Rakuten: Why it & Amex Membership Rewards is a Winning Combo
Rakuten is a free-to-use shopping portal that partners with over 3,500 retailers, offering cash back on purchases you’re already making. Typically, you’d receive this cash back as a check or PayPal deposit, but Rakuten offers a unique twist: the option to convert your earnings into American Express Membership Rewards points. This is a big deal because these points are incredibly flexible and valuable—often worth around 2 cents each when transferred to airline or hotel partners, compared to the flat 1-cent value of cash back.
Here’s the magic: for every 1% cash back Rakuten offers, you’ll earn 1x Membership Rewards point per dollar spent. So, a 10% cash back deal becomes 10x points per dollar. If you value those points at 2 cents each (a common valuation for travel redemptions), that’s effectively 20 cents back per dollar spent—far more than the cash option. Over time, this can add up to hundreds or thousands of points, easily redeemable for flights, hotel stays, or other travel rewards through Amex’s robust transfer partners like Delta, Hilton, or Singapore Airlines.
Elevated Cash Back Opportunities: Black Friday, Rakuten Birthday, and More
Rakuten frequently rolls out elevated cash back promotions that make this strategy even more lucrative. During these events, you can score 10x points or more, turning modest shopping sprees into massive point hauls. Here are two prime examples:
- Black Friday: Historically, Rakuten ramps up cash back rates during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. It’s not uncommon to see 10% to 20% cash back (or 10x to 20x points) at major retailers like Nike, Dell, or Macy’s. For instance, spend $100 at a store offering 20% cash back, and you’ll earn 2,000 Membership Rewards points—worth about $40 in travel value at 2 cents per point. That’s a huge return for something you were already buying!
- Rakuten Birthday Promo: During its annual birthday celebration, Rakuten has offered up to 15% cash back (15x points) or more at select stores. Imagine snagging a $200 item during this promo at 15x points: that’s 3,000 points, potentially worth $60 toward a flight or hotel stay. These limited-time boosts make it the perfect time to tackle big purchases.
Other seasonal events, like “Big Give Week” or random flash sales, can push cash back rates even higher—sometimes as high as 60% or 97% at stores like Norton or NordVPN. These extreme rates mean you’re essentially buying points at a steep discount, turning small spends into outsized travel rewards.
How This Translates to Free Travel
Let’s break it down with a real-world example. Say you spend $500 during Black Friday at a retailer offering 15% cash back through Rakuten. Opting for Membership Rewards, you’d earn 7,500 points (15x points per dollar). At 2 cents per point, that’s $150 in travel value—enough for a domestic flight or a night at a decent hotel. Combine this with regular shopping throughout the year, and you could easily rack up 20,000–30,000 points, covering a round-trip international flight or multiple hotel nights. All from purchases you’d make anyway!
Rakuten and Amex: Step-by-Step Guide Setting Up Your Account
Ready to start maximizing your shopping? Follow these simple steps to create a Rakuten account and link it to your American Express account for Membership Rewards points:
- Visit Rakuten.com and Sign Up
- Head to Rakuten.com.
- Click “Join Now” (usually in the top right corner).
- Enter your email address, create a password, and provide your name. It’s free to join, and new users often get a welcome bonus (like $10 or 1,000 points) after their first $25+ purchase within 90 days.
- Complete Your Profile
- After signing up, you’ll be prompted to verify your email. Check your inbox and click the verification link.
- Log in to your new Rakuten account.
- Navigate to Account Settings
- Once logged in, hover over your name in the top right corner and select “Account Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down to the section labeled “How would you like to get paid?”
- Switch to Membership Rewards Points
- By default, your earnings are set to cash back via check or PayPal. Click “Switch to Membership Rewards Points.”
- You’ll be redirected to an American Express login page.
- Link Your Amex Account
- Log in with your American Express username and password.
- Select an eligible Membership Rewards-earning card (e.g., Amex Platinum, Gold, or Everyday—not co-branded cards like Delta or Hilton).
- Follow the prompts to connect your accounts. Once linked, you’ll see a confirmation that you’re now earning points instead of cash.
- Start Shopping and Earning
- Return to Rakuten.com, browse stores, and click through to activate cash back (now points) before shopping.
- Your earnings will appear in your Rakuten account as “cash back” but will convert to points when transferred to Amex every three months (per Rakuten’s payment schedule: February, May, August, November).
Important Notes:
- You need at least 501 confirmed points by the payment date for a transfer; otherwise, they roll over.
- Switching to points is a one-time choice—reverting to cash back removes the points option permanently, so choose wisely!
Final Thoughts: Shop Smart, Travel Free
Pairing Rakuten with American Express Membership Rewards is a no-brainer for anyone who shops online and dreams of free travel. With regular cash back rates of 1% to 10% and elevated promos hitting 10x, 15x, or even 20x points during events like Black Friday or Rakuten’s birthday, you’re turning everyday spending into a travel fund. Whether it’s a $50 clothing purchase or a $500 tech splurge, those points add up fast—and with Amex’s transfer partners, they can take you anywhere.
So, why settle for cash when you can unlock the world? Sign up for Rakuten, link your Amex account, and start shopping smarter today. Your next adventure might just be a few clicks away!
Unsure which American Express card fits your needs? Take advantage of our Free Credit Card Consultation, and we’ll guide you!
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